Unholy Empire: Chronicles of the Host, Vol 2: Chronicles of the Host, Book 2 (32 page)

“So Moses has just crossed the frontier into Egypt,” said Kara. “I wondered if he would return. I knew we should have killed him in the desert.”

The council had just received word that Moses, former prince of the household of Seti, was returning to Egypt in order to confront Pharaoh and demand the release of his people. The messenger stood by to answer any questions the council might have. They looked at each other.

“Triumphant return, hmm?” mused Pellecus. “Or complete madness!”

“How many troops has he with him?” asked Rugio.

“None, my lord,” said the messenger. “He travels alone.”

Kara sprang to his feet.

“Alone?” he asked. He began to laugh. “Moses intends to release from captivity a nation held by the most powerful country on earth by himself?”

“He brings with him the assurance of God, excellency,” said the messenger. “He met with the Most High on a mountain and was ordered to go and speak with the pharaoh. From what I understand it was in rather spectacular fashion—the Lord spoke to him from a burning bush.”

“A burning bush? The Most High always did have a dramatic bent,” said Kara.

All eyes looked to Lucifer, who stood amidst the statuary in Seti’s recently completed tomb. Rather than following the conversation, he seemed mesmerized by the splendid treasure that was heaped around the room: gold cups, ornate furniture, beautifully carved figurines, jewelry of all sorts. They were meeting in the antechamber next to the large stone sarcophagus which held the recently entombed Seti.

“I am always amazed by how much the Egyptians want to live forever,” he finally said. “I mean, it is in the nature of humans to desire to live beyond this present world—it is also their curse. But these Egyptians have taken it to a greater sophistication. The City of the Dead that lies about us—an entire complex of tombs and temples dedicated to the idea of achieving immortality!”

He indicated the burial chamber they were in. “Look at all the meaningless trinkets that they have buried with this man.” He smirked. “The great Seti! Every man on earth once trembled at his scowl, and now his body rots away in a splendid tomb, surrounded by dazzling treasure.”

Lucifer vacantly picked up the pharaoh’s cup.

“We were discussing Moses, my lord,” said Pellecus, interrupting Lucifer’s rather philosophical interlude.

Lucifer turned to the group.

“Yes, well?” he said.

“Well, my lord, we have watched this man Moses since he was saved by Pharaoh’s daughter. For 40 years he grew up in the greatest house of Egypt, but fled as a fugitive after he committed murder. We then followed him for another 40 years and hoped he would die an uneventful and unremembered death in Midian. Now he comes as one called by the Lord to release His people. If Moses is in fact the deliverer sent by the Most High, then perhaps we should take measures,” said Pellecus.

“And what measures do you suggest?” asked Lucifer. “Shall I appear to him in a burning bush and send him back to the desert? Perhaps Kara should speak to him through an image of Amen-Ra? But I agree that whoever the deliverer is, the people of God must remain captive. It would be a critical error on our part for them ever to leave Egypt.”

“Yes indeed,” spouted Kara. “The building projects of Rameses must continue if Egypt is to remain at the forefront of the nations.”

“Your petty pride in Egypt is misplaced, Kara,” said Pellecus. “There is much more at stake here than your precious temples. If Israel leaves Egypt we shall never again have such an ability to control their destiny.”

“Yes,” added Lucifer. “Better that we fight the Seed on our own ground, where we can use the power of the greatest nation on earth to grind these people into the dust from which they came.”

“And Moses?” asked Pellecus.

“If Moses has met with the Lord on a mountain, and the Lord has sent him to the pharaoh, then we should accommodate him,” said Lucifer. “Let him see Rameses.”

“But he will demand that Rameses let the people leave Egypt,” said Kara.

“And what do you think Rameses will do, Kara?” chided Lucifer. “Rameses is far more capable than his father, whose glory rots next to us. He is much more cunning than that servile opportunist, Anipur, who served his father and now serves Rameses as governor in Goshen. And he is much more dedicated to the gods of Egypt than any priest in the land.”

The council looked at him, not completely understanding his point.

“And as Kara has already said, Rameses is engaged in the greatest building projects ever seen in the history of Egypt! Do you think he is going to allow his labor to be freed on the words of a desert prophet? And a fugitive at that?”

“I see,” said Pellecus. “So you are suggesting that a confrontation might be just what is needed? Interesting.”

“What a better display of our might against theirs. Think of it! The gods of Egypt against the desert God who appears in…what was it? A bush?”

“A burning bush, my lord,” corrected Pellecus.

“Ah yes, a burning bush. The God of Moses is a theatrical genius, but in comparison with the might and power of the gods we pose in Egypt He is nothing!”

“But we are talking about the Most High God!” said Kara. “How can you say He is nothing? The gods of Egypt are, after all, only we your servants.”

“Yes, God Most High is still the greatest living Person in Heaven. I will not deny that. He is a most capable adversary.”

He set the cup of the pharaoh down. “But He is also a God who is limited by human frailty. Mark me, brothers. This time no mother’s prayers will be lifted for Moses. No angels will be able to contest for him. He will be in this alone—him against us. The Hebrew God, hindered by a failure of a man, a fugitive murderer, a man who is slow of speech—against Rameses, Amen-Ra, and the might of all the gods of Egypt. It will be a marvelous stage on which to demonstrate our power to the world!”

The gold and jewels in the room began to glow in the light of Lucifer’s aura that was manifesting as he spoke: “Moses will be humbled, the slave rebellion crushed, and like this great pharaoh who lies forever buried, the Seed will be lost to history, forgotten in the dust of Egypt!”

The city of Thebes was bustling with activity. Its new building projects rivaled any in the world. Rameses had set forth an intense campaign to make Thebes the greatest cultural and religious center in Egypt and, therefore, in the world. He loved inspecting the latest progress of his planned cities. Thebes would be the envy of all!

The pharaoh surveyed the final stages of the temple of the spirit of Menmare Seti, a mortuary temple begun by his father, Seti. Rameses also planned a new southern section dedicated to himself, one on which his own throne name, Usermaatre Setepenre, would be inscribed.

He was proud of the heritage that he carried, and felt the great responsibility to hand down an even greater Egypt to his own successor. His god-like authority was unquestioned; his great army was undefeated in battle; his priests were servile and supportive; and the people were happy. All was well in Thebes. All except…

“What?!” said Rameses. “The deliverer again?”

“Yes, great one,” said Kephti. “It has been told to us in a vision.”

“Yes, yes,” said Rameses. “Another vision. Who was it this time?”

“The great Anubis, dread god of the underworld, saw fit to visit Maret-men, one of my greatest wise men.” “Yes I know all about Maret-men,” said Rameses. He’s all full of tricks, that one! Dabbling in all sorts of black and mystical arts. Plus I don’t like my excursions into the projects interrupted by the visions of dubious magicians.”

“Maret-men is indeed mysterious,” said Kephti. “Great in the art of sorcery and magic. The gods of Egypt speak to him because they know that he is jealous for the welfare of your kingdom, majesty.”

“The man is possessed by a spirit,” said Rameses. “If he weren’t of such value to me, I would have him impaled for blasphemy—and for interrupting my view of the work on my father’s temple!”

“Majesty?”

“Very well, send for him!” Rameses said, as he took a seat on his council chair of state that always traveled with him for impromptu meetings. “And send for my wine!”

“I have sent for him already, divinity,” said Kephti. “I shall summon him.”

“You are quite confident, aren’t you?” asked Rameses, as he received his cup.

Kephti bowed low and excused himself from Rameses’ presence. They were meeting in an uncompleted portion of a wing dedicated to Seti’s victory over the Ethiopians. Huge reliefs on the wall depicted Seti charging ahead of his troops on his royal chariot, running over scores of the enemy. Rameses would some day commemorate his own recent victory against the Hittites at Kadesh.

Maret-men entered Rameses’ presence, head bowed low, with Kephti behind him. He waited until Rameses acknowledged him and then he spoke.

“Great Pharaoh, lord of Egypt, sacred of Amen-Ra…”

“Yes, yes, go on,” said Rameses. “I understand you had a visitation by one of the greater gods.”

“Yes, divine one,” said Maret-men. “The god Anubis journeyed from his great underworld domain to speak to me in the night. He told me that the deliverer has already crossed your borders.”

“Crossed my borders undetected?” asked Rameses, glancing at his military aide-de-camp and grinning an incredulous grin. “Is his army invisible?”

“He travels alone, majesty.”

“Alone?”

“Under the protection of his God, great one.”

Rameses sipped his cup and held it in both his hands for a moment.

“Ah yes, the Hebrew God,” he said. “Governor Anipur reports to me that these Hebrews in Goshen cry out to this God.”

“Not only that, but they believe that they will soon be set free, great lord,” added Rash-eman, Rameses’ military attaché. “I was recently in Goshen and heard precious little else.”

“Real or not, even a perceived deliverer could be troublesome,” said Rameses. “Tell me, Maret-men, did the great Anubis tell you when we shall encounter this man?”

“No, Majesty,” said Maret-men. “But very soon.”

Rameses considered the discussion for several minutes, conferring with his chief aides. Finally he spoke:

“Send for Anipur, my governor of Goshen. I want a report from him on what is happening in Goshen. And as for you, Maret-men, you will remain at Thebes in the company of Kephti until the deliverer presents himself. I suggest you speak further with the gods and determine how best to handle our enemy.”

“As you wish, divinity,” said Maret-men, bowing.

“There he is,” said Sar. “That is the deliverer!”

The raucous demons who ruled with Sar in Goshen laughed and jeered wildly. They had been spoiling for a showdown ever since learning that the deliverer had crossed the frontier into Egypt. Now they were at Goshen, watching Moses meet with the elders of the people to tell them that God had sent him to bring them out of Egypt.

Kara had given orders to Sar to discover whatever he could about this man and report immediately to the council. But Sar had decided that rather than take the subtle approach, he would decide the contest here in Goshen and receive the greater glory. He and his strongest warriors loomed over the meeting in Goshen as Moses spoke with the elders of Israel.